Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1878 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIV. To the People of the State of Michigan: Come, let us reason together. Let us look at this asylum question in its true light. Let us who pay our money for the support of this institution demand that it be conducted on the same principle the law makes provision for. Our insane are taken to the asylum retreat to be cared for and benefited, and not to be injured. Our state law (referring to the asylum law) says, first, " Care shall be taken that no person be injured." (It matters not how violent a patient may be, they can be managed without injury.) Let us see to it that this law be observed. Second, " That every patient shall be seen, and notice taken of their condition, as often as once or twice a day, as the case may demand." Third, "That no person be received as a patient unless first examined by two physicians, and pronounced a fit subject for the asylum." And furthermore, " that no person be detained there who is not really insane." And another consideration, "There should be no ignorant or unprincipled attendants employed." I know for a positive fact that these laws were not regarded nor kept by those who had charge of this institution, and that the said superintendent, Dr. E. H. Vandusen, was not only guilty of gross neglect, but also of wilful and premeditated wrongs. The first lessons were not learned at Kalamazoo, as the Tyler case and others will show. I think it very important that there should be a law providing a fund of relief or compensation where attendants are injured by violent patients. There has been no such provision made as yet. Let this subject be considered. One attendant was seriously injured while I was there by being bitten by a patient. She was so much injured that she had to go to a great expense...
